Chapter 2: There Are Some Things You Can't Leave Behind


Alanis giggled as the soapsuds flew Cody's way. Cody laughed and flung soapy water at Alanis. Alanis ducked then slipped and fell on the floor. She laughed heartily as Cody tried to pull her up and fell on the floor himself.
"Cody…you're squashing me" Alanis giggled and shoved Cody off her lap. "The dishes are done…sorta," Cody said looking at the sink with a broad grin.
"MOVIE TIME!" they yelled in unison and dived into the couch then scrambled to get the remote.
"It's mine!" Cody shouted tugging at the remote.
"MINE!" Alanis protested pulling as hard as she could. Alanis got an idea. Alanis suddenly let go of the remote sending Cody falling to the floor, knocking the remote out of his hand. Alanis laughed as she picked up the remote and turned on the television. Cody stuck his tongue out at Alanis. Alanis began surfing the channels when she came to MTV. There was Carson Daly on Total Request Live.
"And we have a premier video, Hanson's new single…Forever Lonely" Carson said and the TVs began to show the video

"I tried so much to replace you
To remember everything you do
But nothing can compare
To the way I loved you
An angel with golden wings
An inscription on a diamond ring
We'll always have forever

Forever lonely
Always waiting in the dark
Forever lonely
Always waiting for your spark
To light my torch and fire
Making me whole once again….



Alanis tossed the remote to the floor and ran to the bathroom in tears. She couldn't stand it anymore. If he missed her so much, why didn't he write back or call her with the number she had given in her last letter to him. Why couldn't she see him? Why didn't he write or call?   

After a few minutes she heard Cody leave. Alanis's sorrow grew deep inside. Cody, Alanis now realized, had been Zac's replacement. He looked like Zac. He sounded like Zac. He sang like Zac. He even had the same taste in music as Zac. 'Cody could never replace Zac, never' Alanis thought bitterly. Alanis looked into the mirror. She hadn't changed all those three years Zac and Alanis were apart. Her hair was still black as night and her eyes were still bright blue like the sky. Her soul was the same. Her mind had changed just a little bit. Nothing had changed.
Alanis stood there remembering the happy times with Zac. The Jell-O, the muddy soccer war, the green goo, the bugs in Tay's cereal, the underwear parade, the peanut butter fight, and even the pop-tarts. She loved those memories so much. Her memories were so sharp; she could almost hear Zac thinking. Then she remembered Sam, the blind man who had thought her how to really live and never run. She smiled as tears came to her eyes. Sam was the father she never had and a bright guiding light she had never seen before she met Zac.

"Alanis…" came a whisper. Alanis looked up. There was no one but Alanis could've sworn she had seen a smiling old man out of the corner of her eye.